Line tapper



y 8, 1956 R, B. CUMMINGS 2,745,079

LINE TAPPER Filed March 2, 1954 1 N VEN TOR Rodney B. Cumings.

ATTORNEY states Patent "12,745,079 '(LINETAIVVPER I Rodney Philornath, Oreg. Application Maren2,'19s4, Serialf No. 413,607

' 2 claims. crass- 109 Thisiinvention relates to a line tapper, and has for an object an improved line tapper particularly useful in making a temporary connection-to a pair'of elevated spaced apart electrical conductors, such as a pair of telephone telegraph lines or power lines, hereinafter referred to in general as electrical conductors, so as to enable an operator on the ground surface or in a stationary vehicle to make a temporary connection thereto, for the purpose of testing the line, transmitting intelligence thereover, or drawing power therefrom, as the case may be.

A further object of this invention is to provide a line tapper of superior construction yet of simpler and less expensive construction and material than existing line tappers.

A further object of this invention is to provide a line tapper which is easy to use, makes a very good connection, both electrically andmechanically to the line being tapped, and which may be readily disconnected from the tapper line when the temporary operation thereof is to be discontinued.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a line tapper which in addition carries a storage reel for carrying an ample supply of tapper conductors to enable the tapped line to be readily connected to any desired instrument, such as a telephone receiver, telegraph key, testing instrument or power using instrument, as the case may be. i

Briefly, the line tapper of this invention is a pear-shaped insulated disk, about ten inches in width to bridge the normal distance between the lines to be tapped, is about /2" to A" in thickness, has an inverted V hook of wedging resilient material on two opposite sides to connect the tapped lines, and has conductor wires extending from the hooks a suflicient distance to reach the desired instrument, and has a flanged reel mounted on the side of the disk for storing the tapping line when not in use, with means such as a cylindrical sleeve for receiving the end of an extension rod to raise and support the line tapper in operative position during use to tap the desired lines.

In the drawings wherein similar numerals indicate similar parts:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the line tapper of this invention as used for tapping a telephone or other electrical line.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view, the tapper line being omitted for the sake of clarity.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view.

There is shown at the line tapper of this invention, intended for tapping electrical lines such as at 11 and 12 normally supported in spaced apart relationship on insulator supports 13 on a cross arm 14 of a pole 15 extending a substantial height above the grounded surface 16.

The line tapper 10 consists of a thin disk 17, of insulated material such as wood or non-conducting synthetic plastic, and is generally pear-shaped in front elevation. Disk 17 is of a width to bridge the space between the conductor lines 11 and 12, but is so thin that it may readily be extended between lines 11 and 12 without making physical or electrical connection therewith in such position. The bottom or pear stem portion 18 thereof has secured thereto a cylindrical sleeve 20 for receiving the supporting end 21 of an extension rod such as customarily used by a linesman 22 for this purpose. I

- Secured to opposite sides of the disk at about its widest horizontal diameter when in use are a pair of inverted line tapping hooks 23. One 'leg 24 of each hook 23 is secured along the periphery of the edge of the disk as by fastening means 27, and the other leg 25 flares downwardly andoutwardly away from the first leg 24. The first leg 24 is made of a good conducting material, such as leaf copper, and the second'leg 25 is of resilient conducting material, such as spring brass. At its apex, the invertedvhook is secured 'by'a fastener 26 to the disk edge, one end of a'tappingelectrical conductor or line 28 being likewise secured by the same fastener 26 to the hook 23.

Just below its apex, the legs of the hook 23 are limited in their separation by a U hook 30 extending thereover and secured to the disk 17 by fasteners 31. Mounted on one side of the disk 17 is a flanged reel 32 about which the tapping lines 28 may be wound for storage when not 'in use, the capacity of the reel being such that the line 28 is ample to reach and connect to any suitable instrument, such as a telephone 33 held by the linesman 22 as shown, beingdetachably connected to the instrument 1 33 by connector terminals 34.

In operation, the linesman 22 first unreels a sufiicient length of tapping line 28, then connects his extension rod 21 to the sleeve 20 and raises the tapper 10 between the lines 11 and 12 with the plane of the disk parallel to the lines 11 and 12. Then he rotates the disk 17 ninety degrees and lowers it to cause the V legs 25 to pass over the lines 11 and 12 and wedge them against the legs 24 into good electrical connection thereto, the terminals having been meantime connected to the instru ment 33.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and therefore it is aimed to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

l. A line tapper for making electrical connections to a pair of spaced apart electrical conductors normally supported at a substantial elevation above the ground surface, said line tapper comprising a disk, pear-shaped in front elevation, of insulated material, having a width to bridge the normal spacing between the spaced apart electrical conductors, a pair of inverted V connecting hooks fixedly secured on the periphery of said disk at opposite sides thereof, the pear stem portion of said disk extending downwardly between said hooks and providing an extension rod receiving means for raising and supporting said line tapper in operating position, and a pair of line tapper electrical conductors, one of said line tapper electrical conductors being secured to one of said hooks, and the other of said line tapper electrical conductors being secured to the other of said hooks, a reel secured to one side of said disk providing a storage means for said line tapper electrical conductors, the combined thickness of said disk and said reel being substantially less than the normal bridging distance between the pair of spaced apart electrical conductors being tapped.

2. A line tapper for making electrical connections to a pair of spaced apart electrical conductors normally supported at a substantial elevation above the ground surface, said line tapper comprising a disk, pear-shaped in front elevation, of insulated material, having a width to bridge the normal spacing between the spaced apart electrical conductors, a pair of inverted V connecting hooks fixedly secured on the periphery of said disk at opposite sides thereof, the pear stern portion of said disk extendingdownwardly between said hooks and providing an extension rod receiving means for raising and supporting said line tapper in operating position, and a pair of line tapper electrical conductors, one of said line tapper electrical conductors being secured to one of said hooks, and the other of said line tapper electrical conductors being secured to the other of said hooks, a flanged reel secured to one side of said disk providing a storage means for.

said line tapper electrical conductors, the combined thickness of said disk and said reel being substantially less than the normal bridging distance between the pair of spaced apart electrical conductors being tapped, each said inverted V shaped hook comprising one leg of good conducting material secured along the disk periphery extending downwardly from the maximum width of said I disk substantially the bottom portion thereof, the tapper. electricalconductor being secured. to said one leg, the other leg of said inverted V flaring downwardly and outwardly away from said one leg, said outwardly flaring leg being of resilient conducting material to wedge the electrical conductor being-tapped against the other leg of said inverted V in good electrical connection thereto, and a U bracket secured to-said disk over said inverted V hook adjacent its apex limiting the separation of said legs, said line. tapper electrical conductors reeled about said flanged reel beingo'f' suflicient length when unreeled to extend from the tapped electrical conductors a distance to connect to a suitable electrical instrument.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,011,600 Forrest Dec. 12, 1911 1,067,354 Leach, July 15, 1913 2,336,009 Graham Dec. 7, 1943 

